Student-Athletes Making the Most of their Opportunity at a CA Community College

Each Year the California Community College Athletic Association
recognizes a male and female student athlete for their excellence
in athletics and academics. Considered the most prestigious award
offered by the Association, nominees are selected from among the
27,000 student athletes participating annually. In addition, the
California Community College Counselors/Advisors Academic
Association for Athletics (3C4A) annually selects award winners
that have overcome significant personal and/or family challenges
and in spite of all of the obstacles have succeeded. The link below
shows examples of previous award winners who not only represent the
outstanding scholars that chose to initially enroll at California
Community Colleges but also those that have taken advantage of the
opportunities provided by a system that can fulfill the dreams for
those willing to accept the challenge.

Former Chaffey College safety, Damien Stafford, has overcome a
lot in his life to go to college and earn a scholarship with the
Nebraska Huskers. Going into his senior season, Stafford is looking
for an NFL deal after earning his degree. Full
Story

Having grown up with violence, drugs, and poverty in East Palo
Alto, Mission College freshman Felicia Anderson is hoping to become
a social worker, with a goal of mentoring youth and helping others
who may face situations similar to hers.

Averaging 22.4 points per game, Anderson was named to the
2011-2012 California Community College Association All-State team,
as voted upon by coaches. She’s Mission College’s
first-ever All-State basketball selection. Full
Story

West Virginia's Bruce Irvin, a high-school dropout who took to
the streets, turned his life around so he could play college
football. His football career as a defensive end began to take off
at Mt. San Antonio College where he became one of the top
out-of-nowhere recruits in the nation.Full
Story

Diablo Valley's Brian Goins finds a home at Diablo Valley
College. This young student-athlete comes from living on the
streets with no high school education to being a star on the DVC
men's basketball team with scholarship offers to four-year
schools.

Soaring for headers or banging into opponents, Arnaldo Salazar
plays soccer with no fear despite doctors' warnings to drop his
passion. After narrowly surviving a car accident two years ago,
Salazar has a new perspective on life, his education and a love for
the game, hoping to take his talents to the four year level next
season. Full
Story

Shaky Smithson survived his childhood in Baltimore, growing up
in a tough neighborhood and avoiding the temptations of the inner
city life. He left his hometown to play football at East Los
Angeles College, then moved to Salt Lake City to play at the
University of Utah. He legally adopted his brother and moved him to
Utah in order to get him away from the difficult teen years that he
experienced. Now, Shaky is playing for a spot on the defending
Super Bowl Championship Green Bay Packers. Full
Story

Despite growing up in 20 foster homes and being warned that he
would end up in prison one day, Tyrone Wilson, 28, of Tulare was
sworn in last week as a member of the State Bar of California.

Ten years ago, he was a football player at Tulare Western High
School, played at Fresno City College for two years and then at the
University of Buffalo in New York, where he graduated with a degree
in African-American studies. He graduated from the Buffalo Law
School in 2009. Full Story

Four years ago as a senior at Warren High, Liz Javier was like
all of the friends she'd grown up with on the high school and
travel ball softball circuit: She had aspirations of turning those
softball skills into a college scholarship. And Javier received
plenty of recruiting letters and questionnaires while being
selected the San Gabriel Valley League's Most Valuable Player three
times and earning spots on the All-CIF Southern Section and
Press-Telegram Dream Team squad.
While those softball friends were landing scholarships and
preparing to move into college dormitories, however, Javier was
coming to grips with her academic and softball futures while
sitting in the bedroom of her Downey home.

"It just didn't work out, academically - my SAT was not high
enough," the Long Beach State senior third baseman said earlier
this week. Full Story

James Ennis, the Male Athlete of the Winter Season, didn't just
finish ninth in the state in scoring (20.3 points per game); he
showcased his all-around game by finishing the season ranked in all
eight statistical categories provided by the state.

But Ennis was most proud of his performance in the classroom
this year. His efforts ultimately earned him a scholarship to play
for Long Beach State.

"I had to do a lot of work in school and I got it done," said
Ennis.

"That was the hardest work I had to do in my life ... It was a
good learning experience for me."Full
Story

Game day starts at 6:30 a.m. for Ebonie Walker-Brown, her to-do
list longer than her vertical leap. She's been "through hell" in
her 27 years, but now her focus stays sharply on basketball ... and
her children ... and her 23.5 unit course load ... and her future,
one of scrubs and stethoscopes — the attire of a high school
dropout turned nurse. Full
Story

Looking back, Justin Bricker doesn’t really remember
putting an effort into his high school studies. Three years after
restructuring his life and transforming his future, Bricker, having
completed one of the more remarkable student-athlete careers in
Oxnard College’s history, will transfer to Stanford next
month to study electrical engineering.

“Once I realized I was able to get that kind of reward, I
took advantage of it,” said Bricker. Full
Story

From dawn to dusk, Jackie Sizemore stays busy. The Yuba College
freshman is taking 19 units this spring semester and earned a 3.9
grade point average last fall. She also starts at shortstop on the
49ers' softball team. "I have a daily planner," said Sizemore, a
Sutter Union High School graduate. "It's been crazy, sometimes,
like when it comes to tests, comes to papers and everything is due
at one time. Social life is very minimal, and I just
concentrate." Full Story

Aaron Waters will be the first to tell you - he owes far more than
his swimming technique and prowess to College of Marin coach Warren
Lager.

Waters, a Drake High alum and the top swimmer on this year's
Mariners squad, saw a bright, burgeoning swimming career that had
already netted him a college scholarship begin to sink as a high
school senior. The culprits: drugs and alcohol. Full
Story